Franco Colombo - Italian bodybuilder

Powerlifting career

Having achieved the maximum for himself in boxing, Franco decided that hitting people was not his calling. The decision to leave boxing was made by Franco Colombo after one fight, as a result of which his opponent received a severe knockout and was in the balance of death. Shocked by Franco Colombo, worried about the life and health of his opponent, he decided not to enter the ring anymore.

Leaving the family all the money he earned, with one small bag, Colombo leaves to work in West Germany. A boxing coach showed him the benefits of training with an iron, and Franco decided to develop physical strength. Working in restaurants, a taxi driver and a security guard in bars, Franco trains in one of two gym clubs in Munich, where he meets Albert Busek - a man who later had a strong influence on the future not only him, but also on the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. In preparation for his first bench press competition, Franco dropped the barbell on his mouth due to an inattentive insurer, knocked out his front teeth and cut his tongue, but a month later he won the competition by shaking 150 kilograms.

In 1968 he again won the Italian and European Powerlifting Championships. Rapidly building up strength, Franco sets world records in all respects for his weight and competes with strong men tens of kilograms heavier than him, surpassing them in results.

His best achievement was in powerlifting with a body weight of 85 kg: bench press - 238.35 kg, deadlift - 340.5 kg, squat - 297 kg.

In 1965, Franco competed in the Mr. Europe competition as a member of the Munich powerlifting team, while Arnold Schwarzenegger competed there as a junior bodybuilder. For this, Arnold had to go AWOL from the army in Stuttgart, where he served at that time. They met, and Arnold said: "I wish I had such power!". Franco, looking at him, replied: "I wish I could be as healthy!" Arnold later moved to Munich to work in the same gym, where they became training partners and best friends. So Columbo came to bodybuilding and began to compete.

Bodybuilder career

Following Schwarzenegger, Colombo moved to America. He enters a medical college, works at construction sites, continuing to improve in sports.

In bodybuilding, Columbo continues to achieve success, he becomes "Mr. Universe", and then comes second (after Schwarzenegger) in the competition "Mr. Olympia" in 1975.

After leaving the podium of Schwarzenegger in 1976, Franco Colombo reaches the cherished goal and becomes "Mr. Olympia". A day later, at the World's Strongest Man, Franco seriously injures his knee and is retired from the sport for several years.

However, he develops a special system of exercises for knee recovery after injury and begins to do squats with light weights. Around the same time, he received his medical degree and practiced medicine.

In 1981 he returned to the podium and became Mr. Olympia for the second time. After that, he ends his bodybuilding career.